During July, 2061 Halley’s Comet will return as it does approximately every seventy-five years. During its November, 1835 appearance the great American writer, Mark Twain, was born. Years later, Twain told friends that since he was born during Halley’s visit, it would be “the greatest disappointment in my life” if he didn’t die during its next appearance. It is no surprise that he died in April, 1910. One could say he willed his own demise.
On July 4th 1826, exactly fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, two of the men most instrumental in its drafting died. Former presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within a few hours of each other.
To me, it was God linking these two statesmen for all time. I can just see them approaching the Throne of Glory arms around one another’s shoulders in eternal bonds of brotherhood.
On May 24th, 1844 Samuel Morse transmitted the words “What hath God wrought” (Numbers 23:23) from Washington to Baltimore using electrical pulses and his Morse Code. That was the Bible holyday of Shavuot/Pentecost, which this year begins on Saturday night.
Shavuot, the anniversary of the day upon which God gave His message to mankind through Moses on Mt Sinai, was the first time in the history of humanity that people thousands of miles apart could communicate almost instantaneously.
What lesson did the Lord intend when He guided Morse to give the world electronic communication precisely on the festival commemorating His bestowing upon us the Ten Commandments?
In true rabbinical fashion, I will answer the question by asking three others.
What words can the pacifist professor of philosophy utter to engage the vicious predator with cold eyes and no conscience who has just put a gun to the professor’s head?
What meaningful dialogue can possibly flow from a meeting between the president of Planned Parenthood and the Pope?
Wouldn’t it waste your time eavesdropping as a Bible believer debates a militant atheist? All these encounters I’ve described are between people who don’t speak the same language. Because they share no matrix of meaning there is little basis for communication. While the feathers may fly and the fireworks might be sensational, nothing of true consequence is likely to emerge.
It’s no coincidence that Samuel Morse’s breakthrough communication technology debuted on the very day upon which God presented His ultimate system of values to the world. The message is clear. To put it starkly there can be no lasting creative communication and collaboration between people who share no values.
Marriage with a very attractive individual, but one with whom no ultimate values are shared, enjoys very little probability of long term success.
Diversity of values is no asset in a business, particularly in a smaller entrepreneurial endeavor. The effective business professional will hire associates who possess the necessary skills and drive. However, just as importantly, they must also share the company’s value system, set by the founder.
Families should not expect their children to receive the education they anticipate at schools and colleges that do not share the family’s value system.
Values must precede all else. For this reason, Israel’s journey from slavery in Egypt to its own geographic and spiritual destiny in Jerusalem has a date at Sinai as its pivotal point. The quest for independence and development can only succeed when the people are fortified and fashioned by their common value system, the Torah.
The upcoming shared anniversary of both the telegraph and the Torah reminds us to communicate our value system effectively to our families and our social and business organizations. It is far more productive and far less stressful to live with and direct a group of people who share common values and vision.
We specialize in creating resources to help mold value systems for families and organizations from Sinai’s eternal message. By absorbing these entertaining, yet compelling books, audio CDs, and videos, you can enhance your intuitive sense of the system and by gifting them to those you live and work with you can lubricate lives. For the next few days, use promo code SHIP at checkout and receive free shipping on online orders over $49 within the continental United States.
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